Space-graduating mechanism for typewriters and the like



Dec 4, 1928.

K. c, o" BRYAN ET AL smcn eamumme MECHANISM pox TYPEWRITER-S AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 14,1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 @"omeu K. C. OBRYAN ETAL SrACE GRADUATING MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERQ AND THE LIKE Filed 000. 14, 1925 4 Sheets-sheaf 2 4 I gun-aurora; f1. 6. 057470, c]: W. 027ya714 Gnome Dec. 4, 1928 K. C. O'BRYAN El AL SPACE GRADUATING MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS AND THE LIKE Filed ot. 14. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 6'. .373070, OLE/yam a Z Dec. 4, 1928. 1,693,796

4 K. c. OBRYAN ET AL SPACE GRADUATING MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 14, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Suveul'or A101 0,8?47, C]: 77, 027

en v M IML\ Patented Dec. 4, 1928. v

UNITED STA KENNETH GDBRYAN AND JAMES rss PATENT OFFICE- SPACE-GRADUATING MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed October 14, 1925.. Serial No. 62,448.

This invention relates toa space graduating mechanism. with associated compensating An object of the invention resldes in providing a carrier independently movable with respect to the typewritercarriage controlled by an escapement mechanism for movement in a uniform predetermined manner, a graduating mechanism being provided between the carrier and the carriage whichare' movable in the same direction for graduating the movement of the carriage with respect to the carrier to provide a predetermined ratio of movement of the carriage relative to the carrier in the release of the escapement mechanism. 2

Another further object of the invention resides in-providing a carrier movable in the same direction as the carriage of a typewriter and controlled by a standard escapement mechanism on which is mounted space graduating means adapted to control the movement of the carriage in a predetermined ratio with respect to the movement of the carrier, for graduating the type spacing of the typewriter in a line.

A further obj cct of the invention resides in providing a compensating mechanism associated with the spaced graduatmg means oper-- jable to retain a predetermined relation or position between the carrier and the carriage in order that an even margin at the left hand side of a page being typewritten may be'maintained although the line spacing of various] lines throughout the pageare graduated for difi'erentspacing in the line.

" in associating the back spacing mechanism ofthe typewriter for direct operation on the star wheel of the escapement mechanism.

other important features in the construction and relation of the structural elements of the device which are more particularly and fully pointed out in thefollowingdescription-dimechanisms. a I J Fig. 3 1s a plan view of the invention apin of the adjustment.

rected to the preferred form of construction,

WILLIAM OBBYAN, or wAsnmeaomrIsrnIcr OF COLUMBIA.

it being understood, however, that the structure and association of the parts of the space graduating mechanism and of the compensating mechanism may be varied in a desired manner for adapting the construction to the various forms of typewriter constructions now manufactured and used, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as herein set forth.

In the drawings plica'tion:

Figure l is a rear elevational View of the invention showing the essential portions of the space graduating mechanism and also the compensating means.

forming part of this ap-.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the invention applied to a typewriter construct-ion showing the operating .connections between the typewriter and the compensating and graduating plied to a typewriter.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged 'detail elevation of the operating means. for adjusting the space graduating mechanism for changing the ratio between the movement of the carriage and the carrier and the indicating dial associated therewith for indicating the character spa/cig. '5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-. 5 of Fig. 1, on a substantiall large scale,

showing the mechanism operate by the spacing bar of the typewriter, and a portion, of

the escapement mechanism controlled thereby. Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line line- 6-6 of Fig. 5, showing the manner inwhich the escapement mechanism is'connected and associated with the standard spacing mechanism of the typewriter for operation andjcontrol thereby.

Fig.7 is a vertical sectional view showingthe details of construction of the co ing mechanism. v

' Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken Another ob 'ect of the invention resides (Fig. 9 is a detail enlarged elevational view of the escapement releasing lever for releasv ing the carriagein the usual and well known A 3 manner. I The inventlon comprehends numerous A plate member 1 is'siiitably secured to' the typewriter frame structure indicated at 2' and to theback rtion thereof and forms at 10 which operates in the usual rier 3 is mounted on the rear face of the plate riage provides the power for operating the entire mechanism of this invention and the same is controlled b the movement of the star wheel 8 through the operation of the escapement mechanism indicated generally well knownmanner at present'known in the art. This escapement mechanism comprises a pair of cooperating pawls 11 and 12 adapted to permit a step by step movement orrotation of the star wheel 8 in the lateral movement thereof relative to the star wheel. This escapement mechanism 10 is mounted on the horizontall movable bar member 13 pivoted to the brao et 14L at one end which is"secured to the supporting plate .1 and normally operated in one direction by'the spring 15. The 0 posite end of this bar member 13 is slida ly supported on the bracket 16 secured to the supporting plate 1 and is adapted for limited movement between the stops 17 carried by the brackets 16. An arm 18 is m0unted on the end of this bar 13 and extends through an opening in the supporting plate 1 for engagement with theend of one of a-pair of interconnected levers 19 mounted on the bracket 20 secured to the supporting plate, the other end of the air of levers carries the arm 21 having the orked end 22 receiving the in 23 carried by the typewriter spacing mec anism, which is operated in each operation of the spacing bar or any one of the type keys of the t pewriter for releasing the carriage throng the operation of the escapement mechanism to permit one step of movement thereof in the usual and well known manner. This operation of the type bars or space bar of the typewriter will therefore permit of a step by step'niovement of a predetermined uniform character on the part of the carrier 3 which will also permit of a step by step movement of the carriage 5 of the typewriter, in which the movement of thecarriage will have a predetermined ratio V with respect to the movement of the carrier 3.

The standard escapement mechanismlO of the tiyipewriteras is well known in the art is usua y provided with an operating arm such teeth of the star wheel 8, for permitting the a lever adapted release of the escapement mechanism and the free movementof the carriage independently thereof. In :the present invention, this mechanism operated in the same manner by the operation of the lever 24 Which releases the escapement mechanism from cooperation with the star wheel, and permits the free movement of the carriage 5 and the carrier 3. The lever 24 is operated by thebell crank 25 pivotally supported on the plate 1 having the laterally extending arm 26 engaging the end of the lever 24, while the opposite end of the bell crank is provided with the link connection 27 extending upwardly along' the rear plate of the supporting face 1, with the upper terminal bent laterally and extending through the slot 28 in the plate 1 for engagement over the bar 29 of the escapement releasing mechanism operated by the lever 30 of the usual standard typewriter structure.

Upon depressing the lever 30 in the usual manner as shown in Figs. 2and 3, the bar 29 of the esca'pement releasing mechanism of the typewriter will operate the link 27 and the bell crank lever 25 for transmitting the motion to the lever 24 which will release the escapement mechanism and permit free operation of the carriage under the action of the usual spring drum normally adapted to move the carriage in one direction.

The usual typewriter construction is equipped with a back spacing device which is used without modification in the present invention for producing back spacing of the carriage. The back spacing key is indicated at 31 in Figs. 2 which operates the rotatable shaft '32 mounted in the typewriter frame forming part of the usual back spacing mechanism while for the purpose of the present invention, this shaft 32' is equipped with an arm 33 projecting rearwardly therefrom and at the free end of which is attached a connecting bar 34 secured at its upper end to the lever 35 pivoted at one end thereof as indicated at 36 on a suitable support carried by the sup orting plate 1, while the opposite end of t 1e lever 35 carries thepawl 37 which is adapted upon the depression of the back spacing .lever 31 to engage one of the teeth of the star wheel 8 and produce a'reverse rotation thereof .throu'gh one step of movement, which will move the carriage 5 back one space against the tension of the spring drum'normally adapted to operate the same in the opposite direction. The pawl 37 is pivotally mou fed on the end of the lever 35 -and normal y held with one end in engagement with the sto 38 by a suitable leaf spring mounted on t 1e lever 35, which in, the operation of the back spacing mechanism, will permitthe pawl37 to ride over the teeth of the star wheel 8 so that the step by step movement may be provided in the usual manner. This feature of the invention is regarded as of special importance in view spacing with a'reduction of parts.

The usual latch bar mounted on the typewriter carriage is indicated at 39 intermeching with which is the lower pinion 40 mounted on the stub shaft41, rotatably mounted l in; the supporting plate land carrying the small pinions 42 which interm'eshes with .the actuated slide member 43 mounted for sliding movement in the guide 44 at the lower end and between the rollers 45 at the upper end. The edgeportion of this actuated slide member is provided with rackteeth intermeshing with the pinion 41 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. This actuated member 43 forms. part of the space graduating mechanism of this invention and y v is part of the mechanism which is operated at the graduated ratio of movement relative to the standard uniform movement of the carrier 3,

The main portion of the space graduating mechanism or means of this invention is mounted on and forms part of the carrier structure 3. f A bracket member 46 is mounted on the carrier 3 and pivotally mounts one. end of the graduatin member 47 thereon. This graduating mem er 47 is formed with a slot 48 extending throughout. its length which slidably' receives the roller 49 adjustably carried by the actuated slide member 43 in a manner which will, presently be described, by which the movement of the carrier 3 is transmitted to the slide member 46.

The free end portion of the graduating member 47 mounts an arcuatevarm 50 provided with the rack 51 intermeshed with the pinion 52 operable on the stub shaft 53 car carrier and provide a substantially rigid support forthe free end of the graduating arm 47. A worm 57 rotatably mounted in bear- 59 ings 58 carried by the carrier 3, intermeshes with the, worm. wheel 54 and is" mountedon the tubular shaft 59, slidably receiving the telescoping shaft 60 which are mounted to prevent rotation of thetubular shaft 59 with respect to the shaft 60 This permits of .a-y

free sliding movemnt of the tubular shaft 59*?- with the carrier 3, the shaft 60 lying in the f line of movement of the carriageand in addition to being supported by thetubularshaft 59,.has a bearing 61onthe supporting. late 1.-

The free end of the shaft 60 mounts a eveled pinion 61 intermeshing with the beveled pin-f ion 63 mounted on the shaft 64 extending sub stantially at right angles to the shaft 60 and" 05 along the side of thextypewriter frame as 'mounted on the forwardly extending supacters desired in the line'of printing.

shown in Figs. 2 and 3 to the forward end of the typewriter frame adjacent the keyboard. At this forward end of the shaft 64, the same is provided with a bearing in the bracket 65 porting arm 66 carried by the sup-porting plate 1, while the forward end of the shaft 64 is provided with an operating knob 67 so that the worm 57 may berotated for transmitting movement through the worm wheel 52 for adjusting the space graduating mechanism of the typewriter and particularly the graduating bar 47 for graduating the spacing of the typewriter by varying the ratio of movement between the carriage 5 and the. carrier 3. The 8 bracket 65 at the forward. endof the arm 66 rotatably mounts the small shaft 68 projecting through the indicating-dial 69 secured to the bracket, which is rotated upon the operation of the shaft 64 through the reducing gearing indicated at 70 driven by a worm wheel and pinion from the shaft 64.

The dial 69 is provided with a circle 71 adjacent the periphery thereof having the divisions marked thereon as clearly indicated 0 in Fig. 4, in which the divisions are construct ed for representing additional orfewer characters for a line of printing more or less than the standard number of characters for which the typewriter construction is made. This scale on the circle 71 has the points 71 thereon adapted for cooperation with the pointer 73 mounted on shaft 68 so that the space graduating mechanism will be set for standard spacing at this point. In order to obtain one 100. or more additional characters in a line, of print on the typewriter, the knob 67 is operated to move the pointer to the left or in an anticlockwise direction as shown in Fig. 4 over the scale 71 one or more divisions in 210- m5 cordance with the number of additional characters desired in the line. Should fewer characters be desired in a line of type as compared with the standard number in a line,

then the knob 67 is operated. to adjust the 1m space graduating mechanism while the pointer 73 moves in a clockwise direction over the graduations on the circle 71 a desired number of points in accordance with the fewer char;-

With us said opposite one of these pointers, it can then be accurately determined on the indicator dial exactly how many characters are typed in a line of printing by the predetermined settingof thespace graduating mechno anism. p

Should it be desired to have one or more additional or. fewer characters in a space smaller than-the length of thest-andard line offprinting ,byjthe typewriter, it has been found neoessary tojprovide additional gradu- "fiations on the dial for this'purpose.

e concentric graduated icircles indicated by the nu metal 72 have therefore been provided as illustrated in Fig. 4 for the purpose of lllllS- no tration, to indicate howone or more additional or fewer characters in-a two, three, or four inch space may be obtainedbythe operation of the space graduating mechanism which will be indicated on the dial. Thus, should it be desired to have one or more addit ional or fewer characters within a predeter-' mined space as just set forth, for certain re:

ber'43, operating the-same a slight istancedetermined spaces, then the proper gra uationon the concentric circle 72 corresponding to the spacing desired is selected and the knob 67 operated to set the pointer 73 over the desired graduation for the additionalor few.

identified'within the'spaceprovided thereforwhich produces a small rotation of the pin- 7 ions 42 andconseguently a movement of the 'ca'rriage5, while uring this ad'ustment the carrier 3 remains stationary; his change of relation between the movement of the carrier and the cari'iage changes the vertieal alinement of thet-ype so that if it be desired to write one line having one s ace :Tdjust ment, and the next line at a di erent space graduation, it is to be understood that the line cannot be started with a letter directly under the letter of the preceding line, at the left hand margin of the page, which is usually made uniform for the production of neat work. In order that an even margin may be made on the left hand/side of the sheet, a. compensating mechanism is provided on the t pewriter which is shown more clearly in s compensatin gated slot 76 formed in the actuating slide member 43, which slide plate rotatably" mounts the roller 49. A U-shaped bracket 77 is mounted on-the slide plate, one leg of which carries the retaining rollers 78 which enga es the rear face of the graduating momnumeral 80.

ber 4 and retains the same in proper asso- .ciated relation with the actuated member 43. The upper leg portion of the U-bracket 77 is provided with a threaded o ening threadedly receiving the screwmem er 79 which extends throu h the laterally bent upper end of the mem The upper end ofthe rod 79' carries the operating knob 81 which has a bearing against the laterally projecting portion 80,. while'immediately below this portion 80 is mechanism includes a slideplate 'slidab y mounted: in the clone er 43 indicated by the mounted 'a collar 82 secured on the shaft 79 to prevent'axial movement thereof with respect to the actuated slide member. From this construction, it will be seen that by rotating the knob 81 thatthe slide .plate 75, can be moved longitudinally of the actuated member-43 which will producea movement of the actuated member when the ing member 47 is held stationary so that the motion of the actuated memberwill-betransmitted to the carriage 5 by means; of the pinion 41 and the large spur gear 40$] i v graduat- This compensating device'thereforepro- I vides a means of adjusting thqcarriage rela tive to the carrier 3 so that any predetermined relation between these two essential elements of the typewriter structurema'y'be obtained in order to produce a desired relation between the typing of several-successive ,lines which may be typed at difierent space "graduations between the type. I Y

The star wheel 8*, ma

normal operation of t 1e esca ement mechanism and the starwheel so 1; at the carrier will move the same ,as ,tlie 'carriage of the standard typewriter or in accord'ance with the standard ste by step movement for producing standa-r type spacingwithin a line of type in a typewriterstructure.

The operation then, of the knob 67 the graduating members 47 will of the actuatedmember'43 atjright angles to I I .constructed to vprovide for an escapemento'f standard proportion as now used m'typewriters which will 7 permit of a step by ste movement under the 4 produce a graduated movement in predetermlhed ratio the carrier and the.v corresponding movement a.

of the carriage 5.inithesame direction as the carrier which will be alto, greater, or less, as the adjustmen ,thejfj-aduating memher is set to u i iate' the spacing of the typein a linefeit er equal to, greater than or; less than. thest'andard type spacing of the "typewriter as: now constructed and used.*, t, v

In ,producingl'gia greater space than the standard space andacorresponding1y fewer number of characters-per line than a standard a typewriter, the carriage will-move a greater distance for each'fs'jtepthan the carrier 3,

,while on the other hand,' where the type spac-, ing' is graduated toja smaller amount than standard spacing, the jcarriage'will move a s1 'naller distance for' each vstepped motion than the carrier'3, so that acorrespondingly greater; number of character-scan be incorporated in the sameline ofty ethan the standard o number of characters or which typewriters are now ordinarily constructed.

This graduation of spacing results entirely' from the relation of the movement of the carrier 3, the graduating member 47, and

the actuated member 43 which correspond to a right triangle structure wherein the vcarrier represents one side of the triangle,

the actuated member 43, anotherside of the triangle and the raduating member 47 the hypothenuse oft e triang e. In. one step of movement corresponding to the movement permitted by one tooth of the "star wheel, the carrier will move a predetermined distance'which will be constant for the entire \and continued operation of the typewriter so that one side of the triangle "will be of predetermined length for all s ace graduation of a line of t pe. The rol ier 49 moves along the line 0 the hypothenuse of the triangle for eagh step of movement of the carrier 37 The remaining side represents the movement of the actuated member 43 which is the graduated spacing of the line of type of the typewriter as produced by the movement of thecarriageb.

It will be seen that by varying the angle between the first mentioned side of the triangle and the hypothenuse that the length of the remaining side will vary with changes in the opposite angles. The change of this angle .is efiected by the movement of the graduating member 47 through the operationof the worm 57 by the means provided therefor as above described.

' In connection. with. the tabulatingmechanism of the typewriter, it isto be understood that for tabulating purposes the usual tabulatin mechanism is employed and the stop positloned at'the proper point for the tabu- .lating purposes with the standard type spacing of the typewriter. All; typewriters are provided with a standard scale over which moves a pointer carried by the carriage to indicate the position of the carriage on thescale, and thereby the remaining number of spaces for a line of type. Whenthe space graduating member is adjusted to produce space graduation in a line of type less or eater than the standard gradua ion, then it will be understood that the set-ting of stops of the tabulating mechanism willnot correspond exactly with the tabu-lated space "setting of the mechanism for such tabulation. It has been therefore found necessary to place the stop at the standard scaledivision preceding the point at which the motion of the carriage is designed to be arrested so that the carriage will be engaged and its movement arrested by the stop or the tabul'ating mechanism upon the depression of the tabulator key at which point the escapement mechanism will not cooperate with the star wheel to prevent further movement of the carriage but upon release of the tabulating mechanism which again releases the carriage to the escapement mechanism a slight further movement will -take place which will bring the escapement. mechanism into.

carria groper cooperation one of the shoulers of the star wheel and then position the in the desired position for set tabulation. n this way it will be seen that the space graduating mechanism and the standard tabulator cooperates for any tabulatinlg purposes desired, and in view of thewel nown structure of the standard tabulating mechanism of a typewriter construction it is not believed necessary to illustrate the same in view of the fact thatit is believed that a clear understandingcan be obtained from the above description.

From the above description, it should now be appreciated that a special relation is provided between the carrier and the carriage which are both movable in. the same direction, in which the carrier forms a movable support for the graduating mechanism of the invention which is'connected with suitable mechanism movab-le with the carriage for providing the graduated motion of the carnage to produce graduated spacing.

It is to be further noted that the usual controls for the carriage movement are employed without changing materially the standard construction of the typewriter, but by merely adding special connect-ions therewith for controlling. the diflerent functions as above'set forth. A special feature resides in the provision of back spacing by the direct operation of the back spacing lever on the star wheel. a

The construction illustrated in the drawings is shown on a substantially large scale in comparison with the size of the typewriter,

but it is to be understood that the relative proportlons can be materially reduced and the entire mechanism incorporated within small compass within the typewriter frame;

In this connection, it'is desired to call attention to the fact that while the adjustment for the compensating mechanism is provided at the rear of the'typewriter as shown in the drawings and in a position which might interv Havlng thus described our invention, what weclaim as new is 1. In "a typewriter having a movable carriage, a standard" uniformly operable escapement mechanism for providing standard type spacing, space graduating mechanism for transmitting the motion of the escapement mechanism to the'carriage for controlling movement of the carriage in a predetermined ratio with respect to the escapement mechanism, and compensating means for varyingthe relation of the carriage. with the space uniformly operable escapement mechanism,

a carrier operably connected with the escapement mechanism for movement with the carriage, and manually controlled space graduating means connected to the carrier having an adjustable ratio changing means and. means operable by the ratio changin means connected with the carriage an permitting movement'thereof in a predetermined ratio with respect to the carrier.

3; In a typewriter having acarriage normally moved in one direction, an escapement mechanism for controlling movement of the carriage, said mechanism having a predetermined step by step movement, a carrier operable by the escapement mechanism in said step by step movement in the same direction as the carriage, a manually adjustable space graduating means having portions mounted on and movable with said carrier for changing the movement of the carriage'in a predetermined ratio relativeto the escapement, including a graduating arm mounted on the carrier, an

- operated means connected with the space graduating arm and movable in relative angular relation to the carrier andcarriage, and motiontransmitting means connecting theo erated means with' the carriage,

4. i a typewriter having a carriage, normally operated in one direction, and escapement mechanism controlling movement of the carriage, acarrier mounted independently of and movable with the carriage and connected for direct movement with the escapement mechanism, and s ace graduating means providing an adjustailile connection between the carrier and carriage and carried by the former for controlling the movement of the carriage in a predetermined ratio with respect to the escapement.

5. In a typewriter having a'carriage normally operated in one direction, an escapement mechanism, a-carrier movable in the same direction with thecarriage and connected for direct movement with the escapement mechanism, space graduating means providing an ad'ustable connection between the carrler an carriage controlling the movement of the: carriage in' a prede: termined ratio with respect to the escapement, and a compensating means ad'ustable to retain a predetermined relation etweenj.

the carriage and carrier.

graduating member movably mounted on the carrier, a justing means for the space graduating member mounted 'onthe carrier, and

actuated means for transmitting motion from the graduating member to the carriage in a predetermined ratio.

7.- Ina typewriter having a movable carriage, normally operated in one direction, anv escapement mechan sm, a carrier movable 1n the same direction as the carriage, a' space graduating mechanism connected to the carrier, including an actuated means for transmitting motion in a predetermined proportion to the carriage, andcompensating means carried by the actuated means for adjusting the relation between the carriage and carrier.

ust therelation between the carrier and-carriage.

9. In a device of the character described, j

a movable carriage, a mechanism for control ling movement of the carriage, an independently mounted carrier operated by said mechanism and movable in the same direction as the carriage, and space graduating means connected to the carriage and the carrier mounted for movement with the latter controlling movement of the carriage to produce a predetermined'ratio of movement between said carrier and carriage.

10. In a typewriter having a movable carriage normally operated in one direction, a uniformly operable escapement mechanism,

a carrier mounted independently of the car: I

riage and a operatively connected with the escapement mechanism for movementwith the carriage, and manually controlled means connected to the carrier and having connec{ tion with the carriage for permittingmove:

ment thereof relativ'e'ito determined proportion. p 11.. In combination, a typewriter'having a the carrier in ,a precarriage normally operated in one direction,

adjustable mechanism for graduating character spacing, and means to change the position of the carriage relative to the adjustable mechanismfor the vertical alinement of printed characters when the carriage has,a'

iiferent extent of letter space movement for each character printed. 6. In a typewriter having a movable car i 12. In a typewriter having a movable carriage normally operated in one direction, a

uniformly operable escapementmechanism, means mountedindependently of thecarriage for movement therewith operably connected withthe escapement mechanism, and means connecting the last named means and the carriage operable to permit a movement of the carriage in a predetermined proportion with respect to the first mentioned means and in the same direction.

13. A register for typewriter space graduating apparatus comprising a plate number formed with a series of appropriately designated indicia representing character spacing in a line of typing of predetermined length and secondary means adapted to register the number of characters printed in a predetermined space, varying in number from that printed in standard spacing by said ap p aratus.

14. A register for space graduating attachments of typewriters comprising a plate having one series of appropriately designated indicia indicating character spacing for a line of predetermined length, and a plurality of independent series of appropriately designated indicia indicative of character spacing .in predetermined spaces less than the length of said line.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

KENNETH C. OBRYAN. JAMES WVILLIAM OBRYAN. 

